The Bible
affirms that God is the Almighty: all-powerful and omnipotent. Consider the
power God has as Creator and Ruler of the Universe, the only God who can perform
miracles, forgive sin, and give men eternal life.
Introduction:
1 Peter 5:6 says to “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.”Many Scriptures affirm the greatness of God’s power.
Jeremiah 32:17 – There is nothing too hard for You.Revelation 19:6 – God is called “Almighty.” (1:8; 4:8; 21:22; 2 Corinthians 6:18; etc.)
Mark 14:36 – Father, all things are possible for You.
Job 42:2 – I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
Job 26:14 – The thunder of His power who can understand?
(2 Chronicles 20:6; Matthew 19:26; Jeremiah 32:27; Psalm 115:3;
135:6; Genesis 18:14; Isaiah 43:13)
The purpose of this study is to consider “the mighty hand of God.”
We want to learn to appreciate the greatness of God’s power and why He deserves worship and honor. This should strengthen our faith. God demonstrates His power so we can trust Him to guide and care for us. This then will encourage us to obey God. He deserves our service because of His great works.Note the greatness of God’s power as shown by His works.
Only God Had the Power to Create the Universe.
Men of every generation have wondered about the origin of the universe: the sun, moon, stars, earth, plants, animals, and man.God Simply Spoke All Things into Existence in 6 Days.
This is recorded in Genesis 1.Jeremiah 32:17 – You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.
Hebrews 11:3 – By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Karen and I once saw a planetarium presentation about our Universe. It showed our sun and planets, describing the size of our solar system. Then it compared our sun to other stars in our galaxy: one star is so large that hundreds of our solar systems could fit inside it!
Then it pictured the Milky Way galaxy with millions of stars. But this is just one of millions of galaxies. One area of space has so many galaxies they appear as many as the stars in our sky! Finally, it pictures the whole Universe to the extent man knows it today.
God spoke all this into existence on one day, the fourth day of creation (Genesis 1:14-19). The Bible account simply says, “He made the stars also.”
Psalms 147:4 says He not only knows how many there are, but “He calls them all by name.”
Imagine the power necessary to do this.
(Compare Psalm 33:6-9; Exodus 20:11.)
Creation Proves the Existence and Power of God.
Romans 1:20 – The creation demonstrates the power and Godhead of the invisible God.Many scientists deny creation. They say living things evolved over millions of years. Many believe someday man will become smart enough to create life. The fact is that man has never created the simplest form of life, let alone all the plants, animals, and man.
Consider an imaginary event in which the world’s greatest scientists gather before God and tell Him they have become wise enough to make a man. So, God challenges them to a showdown to see who is powerful enough to make a man. But God says, “You must make man just like I made Him at Creation.” The scientists agree.
The day comes and all the scientists gather before God. The showdown begins, and God reaches down to grab a handful of dirt. The scientists also grab up some dirt. God says, “No, no! This is my dirt. I made all this dirt at the beginning. You go make your own dirt, like I did!”
Man has made some amazing things, but we always start with things that already existed. We can’t even make dirt without having something to start with, let alone can we duplicate the living things we see in nature. The Bible says God made everything in nature starting with nothing.
One who could make the Universe could do anything He set His mind to. Creation proves nothing is too hard for God.
(Acts 17:15; 17:24; Job 36:26-33)
Only God Has the Power to Rule the Universe.
God Rules Over All He Created.
Acts 17:24,25,28 – God rules the universe because He made it.
Only He had the power to make it. Therefore, He alone has the power to rule it, and He alone deserves to rule it.When a man invents a machine, he makes it so he can control it. If he makes an airplane or rocket, he makes computers and switches to tell it what to do. If one goes off course and refuses to obey commands, men have the power to destroy what they created.
So God made the universe, including us. He deserves to rule us, and we ought to respect that power.
1 Chronicles 29:11,12 – God rules as Head over all.
Many people are guilty of Humanistic thinking. We act like we are the highest beings in existence, so we have the right to determine for ourselves how we will live.But the fact is that everything in nature came from the Creator of the universe. Everything in Heaven and Earth belongs to Him. Every blessing is a gift from Him.
Throughout history God has asserted His right to control the universe, and has punished men who refused to accept His authority. (2 Chronicles 20:6)
People Should Worship and Praise God for His Power.
Revelation 19:4-6 – Give praise and worship to God, for the Almighty reigns. In eternity, those who recognize God’s power will praise Him forever. In order to be among that number, we must understand and appreciate God’s power enough to praise Him regularly on earth.Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth. So all people should be taught to obey His commands.
Do you appreciate God’s power enough to honor God and worship Him regularly?
(Genesis 17:1; Revelation 4:10,11; 14:7; 11:16,17; 15:3,4)
Only God Has the Power to Perform Miracles.
God has used human agents through whom to do the miracles, but the power comes from God.Old Testament Miracles
Jeremiah 32:17,20-22 – Nothing is too hard for God. He showed this by the great miracles He did to lead Israel out of Egypt.God brought great plagues on Egypt: water turned to blood, frogs, darkness, and especially the death of the firstborn. Yet Israel was protected from the plagues.
God caused the Red Sea to part, so Israel crossed on dry ground. Pharaoh’s army tried to cross and was drowned.
People think we are powerful, but can we do miracles like these? Such accounts should humble us to appreciate God’s greatness. (Psalm 135:6ff)
New Testament Miracles
Hebrews 2:3,4 – As with the Old Testament, so God confirmed the New Testament by powerful miracles.Examples of miracles
* Jesus walked on water and calmed a storm (Matthew 14:22-33; 8:23-27).* He fed multitudes with a few loaves and fish (Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-39).
* He and His apostles instantaneously and completely healed all kinds of diseases, including leprosy, withered hands, deafness, blindness (from birth), and lameness (from birth). (John 4:46-54; 5:1-9; 9:1-11,30-38; Acts 3:1-20; 4:22; 14:8-10; 5:12-16; 19:11,12; 9:32-35; Mark 2:1-12)
* They raised the dead (John 11:17-44; Acts 9:36-42).
The purpose of miracles was to confirm God’s message and show God’s power.
John 20:30,31 – By the time the New Testament was written, God had powerfully proved in the Old Testament that He is God. But people still needed proof that Jesus was Deity and that the men who spoke the New Testament were guided by the Holy Spirit. That was the purpose of the miracles.Consider the power required to do these miracles. Who today can walk on water or raise the dead? We think men have done well when they invent a cure for tuberculosis or polio. Imagine the power it takes to bring someone back from the dead!
God has unquestionably proved His power.
(Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3; 2:22; 4:7,10; John 5:36)
The Resurrection of Jesus
Romans 1:4 – Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power … by the resurrection from the dead.
Jesus claimed He was the Son of God, He possessed Deity, and all men must believe in Him or perish (Matthew 16:15-17; John 20:28,29; 8:24,31,32).Such claims must be backed up by powerful evidence. What proof could be more powerful than resurrection from the dead? We know that Jesus really was raised, because we have a written record of the eyewitness testimony of many people who saw Him alive after His death (1 Corinthians 15:4-8).
1 Corinthians 6:14 – God raised up the Lord … by His power.
We have considered the power needed to create life in the first place. With all our abilities, we cannot do that. How much less can we give life to one who has been dead three days? If God could raise Jesus, who can doubt that He can do anything He chooses to do?God has demonstrated His power, so that we will believe in Him, worship Him, and obey Him. Do you believe in the power of God? Do you worship and obey Him faithfully?
Only God Has the Power to Reward Men Eternally.
After This Life, We Will Be Raised and Judged for Our Lives.
God has the power to raise us from the dead.
1 Corinthians 6:14 – The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us.
(1 Corinthians 15; John 5:28,29)
We will then be judged for our deeds.
Acts 17:30,31 – Having said that God had the power to create us (verses 24,25) and to rule the universe (verse 24) and to raise Jesus (verse 31), Paul said God also has the power to judge us. Whatever God determines to do, He has the power to do. This is why we need to repent (verse 30).Many people claim they believe in God, yet they continue in sin without repenting. They may believe in “once saved, always saved” or they justify their sin some other way.
This denies the truth of the Bible, or else the power of God, or both. If we believe in the power of God and in the word of God, then we must believe God will raise us from the dead and judge us for our lives. That means we need to get ready for judgment.
We Will Be Rewarded or Punished Eternally.
Jeremiah 32:17-19 – The God who has such great power, also knows everyone’s deeds and will give everyone according to his works.Matthew 25:31-46 – At the judgment, those who obey God will receive eternal life. Those who disobey will receive eternal punishment.
There is no value in studying the power of God unless we are willing to make application to our lives. God’s power proves that He can do whatever He determines to do. He says He will raise us, judge us, and reward or punish us eternally. If we believe in His power, we need to repent and prepare for judgment. Are you ready, or are there things you need to do to correct your life?
Only God Has Power to Save Men from Sin.
God has the power to punish or reward. He would prefer to reward. But the problem is that all men have sinned and need to be punished (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Man cannot save Himself by His own power, so again we need the power of God.Jesus Has the Power to Save All Men from Sin.
Hebrews 7:25 – He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him. To make this possible, He had to die as a sacrifice, suffering punishment for us. (1 Peter 2:24; John 3:16)Mark 2:7 – Who can forgive sins but God alone? No one. But Jesus was God in the flesh, the sacrifice for our sins. Salvation is available only in Him.
(Acts 4:12; Matthew 19:23-26; John 14:6)
To Receive Forgiveness Men Must Believe Enough to Obey.
Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus has all power (authority). So He commands all men to be baptized and then obey all His commands.Mark 16:15,16 – The parallel account says we must hear the gospel, believe, and be baptized to be saved.
Acts 17:30 adds that we must repent.
Romans 10:9-17 says we must also confess Christ with our mouths.
The only power that can save from sin is the blood of Jesus Christ. When people truly believe in God’s power to save, they will obey and serve Him. Who can imagine people, who really believe in the power of the God we have studied, yet who presume to disregard or to pervert His instructions?
If God is the God of power, then only He can save us from our sins. And if He has the power the Bible describes, no one would dare to change what He says to do to be saved. But His word says that Jesus’ blood saves conditionally. We must hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. Then we must live a faithful life.
Conclusion
Behold, the mighty hand of God!Matthew 19:26 – Truly, with God all things are possible.
But that incredible power can either work for us or against us. If God is against us, His power will punish us eternally. If for us, He will reward us eternally.
Who would dare to stand against the God of the Bible? Those who truly appreciate God’s power will serve Him faithfully. Do you appreciate God’s power? Are you serving Him?
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